BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
TRADERS and shoppers at Gizo Market have seen a noticeable drop in the availability of fresh crops this week, with many attributing the shortfall to prolonged bad weather conditions affecting agricultural supply routes and farming activities across Western Province.
Local vendors say that strong winds and rough seas over the past several weeks have restricted small craft to travel between nearby islands and Gizo, making it difficult for rural farmers to bring fresh vegetables, fruits, root crops and other garden produce for sale.
Many of the island communities that normally supply Gizo such as Kolombangara, Simbo, Ranogga and Vella La Vella have had to suspend trips due to the unsafe marine conditions.
Shoppers are feeling the impact at the checkout with less supply coming in, prices for some vegetables and root crops have climbed, placing additional strain on household budgets.
Market Manager Moffat Maeta confirmed that there are less produce coming into the market forcing food price to increase.
“Yes, I have seen a huge decline in produces coming into the market since last week. This is due to the bad weather for sure.
“The market is also empty as not many women came to sell their goods because weather is too cold,” he said.
One of the market vendors from Ranongga known as Mrs Haret said very few boats came across from Ranongga to Gizo with market.
“The sea is too rough and the wind is too strong. Most of the canoes have stayed ashore. We are only getting produce from Gizo Island itself,” she said.
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service has issued recent weather statements warning of strong winds and heavy rain, which are expected to continue to affect the province in the coming days.
These conditions are consistent with the seasonal weather patterns that will continue to disrupt travel and stall crop transport across the island chain.